The Visit of the Wise Men

Now (A)after Jesus was born in (B)Bethlehem of Judea (C)in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from (D)the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born (E)king of the Jews? For we saw (F)his star when it rose[b] and have come to (G)worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where (H)the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

(I)“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who will (J)shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 2:1 Greek magi; also verses 7, 16
  2. Matthew 2:2 Or in the east; also verse 9

The Magi Visit the Messiah

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,(A) during the time of King Herod,(B) Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?(C) We saw his star(D) when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem(E) in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b](F)

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 2:1 Traditionally wise men
  2. Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2,4

Herod Kills the Children

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 (A)Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18 (B)“A voice was heard in Ramah,
    weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
    she refused to be comforted, because they (C)are no more.”

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16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:(A)

18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel(B) weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”[a](C)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 2:18 Jer. 31:15

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

16 (A)And he came to (B)Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And (C)as was his custom, (D)he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up (E)to read. 17 And (F)the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

18 (G)“The Spirit of the Lord (H)is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to (I)proclaim good news to the poor.
(J)He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and (K)recovering of sight to the blind,
    (L)to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 (M)to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and (N)sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were (O)fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today (P)this Scripture (Q)has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

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16 He went to Nazareth,(A) where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue,(B) as was his custom. He stood up to read,(C) 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,(D)
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news(E) to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a](F)

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.(G) The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled(H) in your hearing.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 4:19 Isaiah 61:1,2 (see Septuagint); Isaiah 58:6